Leaving The Cafeteria

LEAVING THE CAFETERIA

Scarlett

What the hell am I doing?

Am I really going on a date with Dr. Enoch? Bennet .

My heart pounds hard against my ribs as I walk across the cafeteria. I want to run at full speed straight for the main door, but I can feel the alpha's eyes on me. His dark sexy eyes and that tempting dimple when he smirks…

Lord, help me. This is a bad idea.

"Hey, lady," Kassidy smiles wide as she spots me on the other side of the main lobby. The sunlight pours in from the massive wall of windows behind her. It goes a good three stories up, making the whole space bright and warm. Too warm. "Where are you going in a hurry?" she asks as she pushes herself away from the receptionist's desk.

"I don't know." I keep walking, unable to look her in the eye. I don't want to tell her. She'll get all excited and maybe even scream, but I'm too shocked for that right now. I need to process this. Dr. Enoch asked me out!

I still can't believe I said yes. What was I thinking? Dating a coworker is never smart, and he's an alpha to boot. Double not-smart. Alphas are possessive and intense. If things don't work out, I'll definitely have to quit. Maybe even move.

I hate myself so much right now. Stupid impulses.

"Slow down, Scarlett." Kassidy rushes to catch up with me. I cut down the first corridor I see, walking like my ass is on fire. "What's wrong?" she asks, and I can hear the worry in her voice. I must look manic. I know I feel that way.

Still walking, I suck in a deep breath, then blurt out, "I just agreed to go on a date with Dr. Enoch."

Kassidy grabs my upper arm, then spins me, forcing my back against the nearest wall. "Say that again." Her eyes are wide with excitement. "You're going on a date with who ?" She turns her head slightly to better hear, then freezes, waiting for me to answer.

I push out a long breath, trying to prepare myself for her reaction. "Dr. Enoch."

A wild squeal cuts through the air as Kassidy begins doing a little dance in the middle of the hallway. "I knew it!" She sings in a high-pitched voice. "I knew he liked you!"

An orderly pops his head out of a nearby door, cutting us a very disapproving look. "Ladies," he says with a tight glare. "Take it somewhere else. We have distressed omegas in here."

I glance up at the sign just above him. The Calming Ward.

"I'm so sorry." Kassidy tugs me back the way we came. "She just lost herself for a moment," she says, acting as if I was the one being far too loud. The second we're back in the lobby, Kassidy forcefully pulls me to a stop, making me stumble. "Tell me everything," she whispers with wild excitement.

I give the lobby a sweeping look, taking note of the busy receptionist and a few visitors milling around the coffee station.

"Dr. Enoch asked me to go to the Christmas party with him," I say, wishing like hell we were talking about this somewhere a bit more private. I don't think anyone is listening, but the tall ceiling and massive wall of windows makes me feel overexposed for some reason. "He said he wanted to take me as his date."

Kassidy giggles before her expression quickly falls. She frowns as she thinks it over. "It's not exactly dinner at The Grand," she says with a quick wave of her hand, "but it's kind of sweet. And he is a bit of a workaholic," she mumbles as if speaking to herself. "So it's not really surprising he'd want to stay here." She glances up at the ceiling as doubt rushes in. I shouldn't have said yes. "It's important to remember that alphas tend to move very fast." Kassidy gives me a knowing look. "So you had better be sure about this."

Shock makes my mouth fall open. "Are you kidding me right now?" My voice rises, more than a little annoyed. This was the last thing I expected her to say. "You have been pushing me like crazy toward Dr. Enoch for months now." I cross my arms, trying not to lose my temper, but I'm failing miserably. "You've been calling him Dr. Sexy and pointing him out every time he's within a hundred yards of me." I lean in, and grit out, "You keep telling me he'd be perfect for me."

"Calm down," she says softly, holding her hands up as if to push my anger away from her. "That's not what I meant." She caresses my upper arms, smiling sweetly. "I'm very excited about this. Very ." Her dark brows jut upward as she gives me an intense look. "I was just caught a little off guard that's all. Let me start over." A vibrant smile pulls across her pretty face and I narrow my eyes, ready for her to react again. "I am so excited for you!" she squeals ever so softly, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Bennet Enoch has to be the sexiest and most eligible bachelor in the whole damn building, and you'll get to show him off at the Christmas party. It's a bold move if you ask me."

"What do you mean?"

"He wants to show everyone here that he's claimed you. That you belong to him. And given just how private the alpha is, that's a bit bold." She bounces her brows up and down. "Talk about a Merry Christmas.

I smile, but only because I can't help myself. "I'm still mad at you." I turn my head away from her. Pouting. But only a little. "You're a bad friend," I smile wider as Kassidy bumps her shoulder into mine.

"Come on," she pulls back toward the cafeteria. "I've got ten minutes left on my break. We can talk about all the naughty things you can do to him under the mistletoe." Kassidy continues to talk about what I should wear and how to do my hair, but I'm not really listening. All I can think about is what she just said: Alphas tend to move very fast.

And she's right. Once an alpha makes up his mind, there's not much that can be done to change it. Betas tend to court each other slowly. We get to know each other, date for a while and have long engagements. But alpha and omegas rely heavily on instinct. Once they find a partner they're drawn to, they tend to form attachments very quickly.

"Kassidy?" I wrap my hand around her wrist, suddenly nervous all over again. "How long was it before your pack asked to claim you?"

"Um," she rolls her eyes upward, thinking. "A week or so."

I come to a stop in the middle of the hallway, unable to take another step. Talk about fast .

"It's okay." Kassidy laughs at the look of shock on my face. "Some packs court their betas a little longer. Some shorter. You never know. If he's a good alpha he'll go at your pace. Is Dr. Enoch the pack alpha? Or is he lower rank in his pack?"

I shrug, not sure. "Why didn't I think about that before I agreed to go on a date with him?" I curse myself. "I took Introduction to Mating Studies. I know alphas want to mate quickly. But it didn't even cross my mind at all." I shake my head, almost numb with shock. "I didn't think at all. I just said yes. I'm so stupid."

"It's a sign," Kassidy wraps her arms around my middle, smiling at me as if I've just said the most wonderful thing. "Betas might not have the same drive alphas do, but we have our own kind of instinct too. And the fact that you said yes without thinking is good." She scrunches up her nose.

I glare at her. " Good ?"

"Yes," she says with far too much attitude. "It's good to be drawn to big sexy beasts with firm pecs and kind eyes."

Something soft and warm blooms in my chest. "He does have very kind eyes." I duck my head, feeling very fuzzy all of a sudden. I'm all over the place today. What is happening to me?

"Oh, my," Kassidy shakes her head as she releases me. "Judging by the look on your face, a week might be a little too long of a courtship."

"Stop it," I snip, holding my head up as high as I can with a bright red face. "It's just a date. He didn't declare his undying love for me."

"For an alpha," Kassidy snips right back with twice the attitude, "it's the same damn thing."

I don't want to admit she might be right, so instead I push my hands into my pockets and start walking again.

"Will his pack be at the party too, or is it just the two of you?" Kassidy asks as we round the corner.

"I'm not sure." I peek into the cafeteria, disappointed to see that Bennet is gone. "I didn't get a chance to ask."

"Ask him tomorrow. Find out just how many alphas you need to woo." She bats her lashes at me before moving to the main counter.

I smile, but inside I'm a complete mess. What if Bennet has three, or even four, packmates? That's a lot of pressure for a first date. Can I do that? Do I even want to?

I suck in a deep breath, trying to ease my thundering heart.

Why did I say yes?